Dispensing package



March 10, 1959 Filed Aug. 2, 1955 Tull.

F. P. COONS DISPENSING PACKAGE ZSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR /-T ?4A//r A(Eva/vs.

ATTxNEY United States Patent G '7 2,876,892 DISPENSING PACKAGE Frank P.Coons, 'Cranford, N. .l'., assignor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporationof New Jersey Application August 2, 1955, Serial No. 525,858 11 Claims.(Cl. 20652) This invention relates to a package for dispensingrelatively limp material in the form of a fiat web.

.fIn accordance with the invention, material in web form, convoluted,accordion folded, or otherwise suitably arranged, is housed in acontainer package from which it is fed endwise through an accessopening. The accessopening is defined by an overlying member and anunder-lying member between which the web material isfed. These memberspreferably are flaps hinged to panels constituting the package walls.The underlying member, which defines the access opening in part, isequipped with means for holding the end of the web material in closeproximity to the access opening so that it may be conveniently graspedby the user for the dispensing operation. In addition, there is anelement associated with the overlying member which constitutes a coverby which the access opening may be closed when the dispenser is not inuse to guard the web material from contamination.

Specifically, the underlying member defining the access openingpreferably and conveniently comprises a flap hinged to the front Wall ofthe container at the top and which extends rearwardly preferablysomewhat beyond the center transverse vertical plane of the dispenserwhere it is rebent forwardly and upwardly to form a pocket with therearwardly extending portion of the flap to which it is attached.

In a dispensing operation, the web material is led from the interior ofthe container up over the rebent portion of the front wall flap throughthe access opening until the desired amount of material has beenwithdrawn from the package. After the withdrawn portion is cut off, theend left protruding may then be tucked down into the pocket between thetwo portions of the flap to which reference has previously been made andthus held in convenient position and against falling back into thecontainer ready for the next dispensing operation. Anchorage of the endportion of the strip in this manner is assisted by making the package ofmaterial with elastic memory, which will tend to straighten out therebent portion of the flap and press the web material upwardly againstthe overlying portion defining the access opening. The invention alsocontemplates means for holding the pocket member in proper positionregardless of the amount of material in the container.

vWhen the leading end of the material is anchored against falling backin the container, a top portion of the container near the front thereofserves as a cover to. close the access opening. When the dispenser isnot in use, the cover helps to prevent contamination of the contents.

-Also in accordance with the invention, the various panels, flaps andother parts of the container are all die cut as a unit out of one pieceof material so that the dispenser is constructed merely by folding theblank along suitably disposed score lines, fastening two edges of theblank together, and turning in the top and bottom flaps.

2,876,892 Patented Mar. 1Q, 1959 A better understanding of the inventionmay be had from the following description together with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a dispensing container with the topflaps opened out to facilitate insertion of the material to bedispensed;

Fig. 2. is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the flap presenting the pocketfor receiving the web material folded down into position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the lateral flaps foldeddown;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with an appropriate portion ofthe top flap folded down and secured in place;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating the dispensing ofweb material;

Fig. 6 is a fore and aft vertical sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fore and aft vertical sectional view of a part of thepackage shown in Fig. 6, but after a substantial portion of the webmaterial has been dispensed therefrom;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing the web material withits end tucked down in the pocket to prevent its falling down into theinterior of the container; and

Fig. 9 is a view of a blank with suitably scored lines to facilitateconstructing the package.

The package in general comprises front, rear and side panels 10, 11, 12and 13 (Fig. l) which in the blank illus trated in Fig. 9 are defined byscore lines 14, 15 and 16 along which the blank may be folded to produceright dihedral angles at the score lines. When thus folded, lateraledges 17 and 18 of the side panel 13 and back panel 11 respectively cometogether so that such panels may be secured at right angles, forinstance, by a piece of gummed tape 19.

The blank is scored along a longitudinal line 20 and beyond the line isprovided with a series of cuts 21, 22, 23continuations of the scorelines 14, 15 and 16 and which together define a series of flaps 24, 25,26 and 27. These flaps, when folded inwardly and at right angles to therespective panels with which they are associated and fastened in place,constitute the bottom of the dispensing package.

The package as thus far described and set up to the extent indicated isold and as shown in Fig. l is ready to receive the contents to bedispensed. A score line 28 parallel to the line 20 and extending fromone lateral edge of the blank to the other, determines the top edge ofthe package (Fig. 9). It separates the front, back and side panels 10,11, 12 and 13 from fiap portions 29, 30, 31

' and 32 thereabove, which, when turned inwardly in manner hereinafterdescribed, serve to close the container at the top (Fig. 1). The flap 29associated with the front panel 10 is relatively long and at a distancepreferably somewhat greater than the distance from the front panel tothe central transverse vertical plane of the package, is formed with anadditional score line 33 which is parallel to the front upper edge ofthe dispenser and divides the flap into an inner portion 34 and an outerportion 35. The outer portion 35 is reversely bent along the score line33 so as to form with the inner portion of the flap, a V-shaped pocketfor purpose hereinafter more specifically set forth.

The portion 34 of the flap 29 is provided along its lateral edges with apair of triangular-shaped flaps or ears 36 defined in part by scorelines 37, 38, which are continuations of the corner score lines 14 and15. The ears 36 are bent inwardly in setting up the container so thatwhen the front flap extends inwardly (Fig. 2), the ears 36 projectdownwardly into the container in position parallel with its sides. Thecars 36 are cut to present corresponding edges 39 and .40, which servein manner later to be described to limit thedownward movement of theflap 29 inside the container.

When the material to be dispensed is locatedin the container and theflap 29 turned inwardly (Fig. 2), the flaps 31 and 32 associated withthe side walls 12 and 13 of the container are bent inwardly toward eachother and their dimensions are such that when folded down parallel withthe bottom of the container, their inner adjacent edges abut one withthe other. If desired, these flaps may be held in place in abuttingrelation by a piece of adhesive tape 41 (Fig. 3), or by any othersuitable means, or indeed may be held in place by the flap 3!) whenfolded down intoposition as later described. The flaps 31, 32 terminateat the front in an edge 42 located somewhat rearwardly of the front edgeof the container and extending transversely thereof, so that there isprovided between such edge and the underlying rebent flap 35, an accessopening 43 enabling the web material to be drawn up over the flap 35 andout through the access opening (Figs. 5, 6 and 7). It should be notedthat the lateral flaps 31, 32 angle forwardly from their fronttransverse edge 42 to the front corner of the container, and, ifdesired, this angular disposition of the edges in the blank (Fig. 9) maybe congruent with the frontedges 39 of the lateral wings on ears 36 onthe front flap (Fig. 9). But aside from a matter of strength and perhapsa better guard against contamination, the purpose of the invention isserved just as well if the front transverse edges 42 of the lateralflaps 31, 32 are in a continuous straight line throughout the entirewidth of the container.

The flap 3i) associated with the rear panel 11 of'the container andwhich may be hinged at the score line 28 is long enough so that foldeddown on top of the container it will extend all the way to the frontthereof. The flap'3il has a transverse score line 44 located, when theflap is folded down, approximately at the position of the front edge 42of the lateral flaps and which defines the rear edge of the accessopening. In initially making up the package for shipment, i. e., afterthe material has been located therein and the front and side flaps bentdown in place, the flap associated with the rear panel is bentdownwardly and. forwardly and the portion thereof between the two scorelines 28 and 44 held down in place as by gluing to the underlyinglateral flaps 31, 32. at the top, or by adhesive tape 44' applied alongthe lateral edges thereof (Fig. 4). This leaves a front flap portion 45in advance of the score line free to be'hinged open to expose the accessopening 43 when dispensing of a portion of the material is desired, andhinged closed to cover the access opening to maintain the contents ofthecontainer free from contamination while the package is in storage oron the shelf.

.A tab 46 formed at the front edge of the front flap member 45 isbendable downwardly and adapted to enter a slot 4'7 located in registrytherewith inthe front flap member 34 adjacent the front wall panel 10.The tab 46 when thus inserted in the slot 47 will effectively hold thecover member closed when the dispensing container is not in use.

Web material 48, in the form of a roll or folded in any suitable manner,is initially located in the package and an end thereof is brought upover the reversely-bent portion 35 of the front flap 29 and then tuckeddown into the pocket formed by said portion of the flap and the mainportion 34 thereof (Fig. 8). When the end is so disposed, it iseffectively anchored against falling back into the interior of thecontainer. Furthermore, the resilient memory of the material of whichthe carton is made will tend to push the web materialup into engagementwith the overlying top of the package so that in effect there is adouble lock against the material falling down into the container. p 7

When it is desired to dispense a portion of the web material from thecontainer, the top front flap portion'45 is hinged open, the end of theweb material grasped and the desired length of material withdrawn fromthe container. The dispensed portion then may be sheared off leavingenough material extending beyond the end of the rebent portion of theflap to enable it to be tucked down again into the pocket ready for thenext dispensing operation (Fig.8). The cover flap 43v can then be hingedclosed and the front tab 46 inserted in the underlying slot.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the initial quantity of material 48 in thepackage may be such as to keep the flap 29, by engagement of its undersurface with the material,

up in a position where the material will be squeezed between the rebentflap portion 35 and the overlying top of the container. However, after aportion of the material has been used so that there is no longer anyengagement between the material in the package and the under side offlap 29, the flap 29 nevertheless will be held up in an appropriateoperable position by the engage ment of the front edges 39 of the ears36 with the inner face of the front panel 10.

The package may be constructed of corrugated fiber board, chipboard orany other type of boxboard appropriate to package constructions of thistype and it may alsobe made of sheet plastic such as vinyl and acetateand indeed any material which is essentially stiff and capable of beingscored and folded.

The invention has been described in connection with one embodimentthereof, but many modifications are within its spirit. It is to belimited therefore,-only by the scope of the appended claims.

The claims are:

l- A dispensing container for limp material in web form, having achamber for housing a quantity of the material to be dispensed and whichis defined in part by a front wall panel, a back wall panel, side wallpanels, and a bottom, and means presenting an access opening to thechamber through which the web may be pulled endwise in dispensingdesired lengths thereof, said means including an overlying memberclosing the chamber in part at the top and which, when the web materialis in the container and during the dispensing operation thereof, has afixed location with respect to the side wall panels of the chamber, andan underlying member which, together with the overlying member in itsfixed position, defines the access opening through which the limpmaterial is pulled during a dispensing operation, means associated withthe underlying member over which the-limp material is drawn during saiddispensing operation and which is constructed and arranged resilientlyto-press' the web upwardly against the overlying member in closeproximity to the access opening, said means acting to form, with theother underlying member, a V shaped pocket having an opening to whichaccess is had through the access opening, and a cover member for closingthe access opening.

2. A dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein the underlyingmember is hinged at one edge to a wall portion of the chamber, andprovided at its opposite edge with a flap reversely bent to form apocket in which the end of the web may be tucked.

3. A dispensing container according to claim 2 wherein the materialforming the container has elastic memory and wherein the underlyingmember is a flap whose hinge connections with the wall portion of thechamber at one edge and whose reversely bent connection with theopposite edge is effected by scoring the material of'which' elasticmemory of the material of which said member is made. 5. A dispensingcontainer according to claim 1 wherein the cover member forms part of anelement having a portion secured to and superimposed above the overlyingmember.

6. A dispensing container according to claim 5 wherein the cover memberis connected to the element of which it forms a part at a score lineconstituting a future hinge.

7. A dispensing container for limp material in web form, having achamber for housing a quantity of the material to be dispensed and whichis defined in part by a front wall panel, a back wall panel, side wallpanels, and a bottom, and means presenting an access opening to thechamber through which the web may be pulled endwise in dispensingdesired lengths thereof, said means including an overlying memberclosing the chamber in part at the top, and an underlying member which,together with the overlying member, defines the access opening, saidunderlying member being hinged at one edge to one of the said wallpanels and being provided at its opposite edge with a flap reverselybent to form a pocket in which the end of the web may be tucked, saidflap being arranged to cooperate with the web near its end for holdingsaid end within the chamber and in close proximity to the accessopening, means associated with the underlying member and cooperatingwith the chamber wall to limit the movement of the underlying member ina downward direction, and a cover member for closing the access opening.

8. A dispensing container according to claim 7 wherein the underlyingmember has edges at right angles to the hinge line thereof and whereinthe means for limiting the movement of said member in a downwarddirection includes flaps hinged to said member at such edges.

9. A dispensing container for limp material in web form, having achamber for housing a quantity of the material to be dispensed and whichcomprises front, back and side panels, a flap hinged at its front edgeto the front panel at the top and turned inwardly and downwardlythereof, a section of said flap at the rear edge thereof bent upwardlyand in a reverse direction to form with the first-mentioned portion ofsaid flap, a V-shaped pocket having an opening, means constituting a topfor the chamber secured to the side panels, an access opening in saidtop in a portion thereof above the flap and in the immediate vicinity ofthe V-shaped pocket opening, and a member forming part of the containersuperimposed above said top and having a portion thereof in the vicinityof the access opening constituting a cover therefor.

10. A dispensing container according to claim 9 wherein the top isformed by flaps secured at their outer edges to the side panels andwhich are in abutting relation along their inner edges, said flaps beingcut away adja cent the front of the container to form the accessopening.

11. A dispensing container according to claim 9 wherein the flap ishinged and movable downwardly and provided at its lateral edges withears bent downwardly, said downwardly bent ears having their front edgesshaped to engage the inner face of the front panel of the containerwhereby to limit the downward movement of the hinged flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,356,331 Allport Oct. 19, 1920 1,752,163 Flint Mar. 25, 1930 2,372,245Avery Mar. 27, 1945 2,771,214 Lefebvre Nov. 20, 1956

